Convertible vehicle with a storable roof

ABSTRACT

A convertible automobile ( 1 ) with a roof ( 3 ), which can be deposited in a rear area ( 2 ) of the vehicle under a trunk lid ( 4 ), wherein on the one hand to uncover an opening ( 6 ) for the roof, ( 3 ) the trunk lid ( 4 ) can be moved by a lock member ( 9 ) associated with it in a first opening direction about a body-fast axis of rotation ( 5 ) at the rear end such that it forms an acute angle (α) with the vector of travel (F) when in the open position, and on the other hand, in order to free a loading opening ( 7 ) to the trunk space ( 8 ), it can be moved in a second opening direction such that the trunk lid ( 4 ) forms in the open position an obtuse angle (β) with the vector of travel (F), while the lock member ( 9 ) associated with the trunk lid ( 4 ), from which the part bearing the axis of rotation ( 5 ) is separated, is configured such that the lock member ( 9 ) associated with the trunk lid ( 4 ) is situated, when the trunk lid ( 4 ) is in the closed position, ahead of the axis of rotation ( 5 ) in the direction of travel (F) and, upon the movement of the trunk lid ( 4 ) in the first opening direction, it is carried on a circular path ( 16 ) around the central axis of rotation.

[0001] The invention relates to a convertible vehicle with a roof that is retractable under a cover in a rear area of the vehicle, according to the introductory portion of claim 1.

[0002] DE 198 51 181 C1 shows a trunk lid for a convertible car of this kind, wherein the trunk lid has a lock member, which is associated with the trunk lid to permit opening an entrance for the stowage of the roof and which can turn about a catch affixed to the car body and comprising an axis of rotation. A large gap is therefore needed toward the rear, below the axis of rotation. A gap of this kind is unsightly. To keep this gap from being too big, the axis of rotation is first raised up substantially vertically before rotation. This calls for considerable mechanical complexity. Furthermore, in the position wherein the opening for the entrance of the roof is uncovered there is not sufficient support against torque about the longitudinal axis of the car, which is created by the weight distribution of the trunk lid, so that to accommodate it two pairs of lock members and catches have to be provided, which increases the weight and production cost.

[0003] It is an object of the invention to simplify the rear-end arrangement of the trunk lid on a convertible of the kind referred to in the beginning.

[0004] Pursuant to the invention, this objective is accomplished by a convertible automobile according of the introductory portion of claim 1. Additional advantageous embodiments of the object of the invention are given in dependent claims 2 to 10.

[0005] By shifting the lock member longitudinally away from the axis of rotation in accordance with the invention, the raising up of the lock member takes place simultaneously with its rotation, since it is guided on a circular path. A separately controlled or driven vertical lifting of the lock member and/or the axis of rotation is therefore unnecessary, thus reducing the weight and the production cost.

[0006] With an especially advantageous arrangement of a plurality of connecting means alongside one another between the lock member and the counter-member associated with the car body, the result is a very stable support of the trunk lid against torque even when it is open.

[0007] If the connecting means include conically shaped engaging means, then, during the closing of the trunk lid, centering on the trunk loading opening simultaneously also takes place while the trunk lid is being closed from the open position.

[0008] Additional advantages and features will be found in an embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing and described below.

[0009] In the drawing:

[0010]FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic view of an inventive convertible automobile with its trunk lid open to provide for the entrance of the roof,

[0011]FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic view of the convertible automobile of FIG. 1 with the trunk lid open to allow the trunk to be loaded,

[0012]FIG. 3 the convertible car of FIG. 1 with the trunk lie closed and with diagrammatically indicated connecting parts between the car body and trunk lid,

[0013]FIG. 4 the detail IV in FIG. 3,

[0014]FIG. 5 a view similar to FIG. 4 with the trunk lid open to accommodate the roof,

[0015]FIG. 6 a view similar to FIG. 4 with the trunk lid open to allow the trunk to be loaded,

[0016]FIG. 7 a perspective view of the component bearing the cantilever arm as well as the lock member associated with the trunk lid,

[0017]FIG. 8 an opposite perspective view of the parts in FIG. 7,

[0018]FIG. 9 a view of the parts in FIG. 7 as seen from below at an angle with the entrance open to receive the roof,

[0019]FIG. 10 a view similar to FIG. 7 with the trunk open for loading,

[0020]FIG. 11 the parts in FIG. 7 as seen from above,

[0021]FIG. 12 the parts in FIG. 7 as seen from behind,

[0022]FIG. 13 the parts in FIG. 7 as seen from in front.

[0023] The inventive convertible automobile 1 has in a rear area 2 of the vehicle a retractable roof 3, which is to be contained in the retracted (opened) position underneath the trunk lid 4.

[0024] The trunk lid 4 can, on the one hand, move in an opening direction around a body-fast rear-end axis of rotation 5 such that, when in the open state, it forms an acute angle β with the vector of travel F and thus opens an entrance 6 for the roof 3. On the other hand, the trunk lid can be moved in a second opening sense (FIG. 2) such that, in the open position, it forms an obtuse angle β with the vector of travel F and thus provides an entrance 7 to the trunk space 8.

[0025] With the trunk lid 4 there is associated at its back end a lock member 9, by means of which a connection can be made to a component 11 connected to the body 10 to hold the trunk lid 4 in the closed position (FIG. 3) or in the open position in the first opening direction in order to provide the entrance 6 for the roof 2 (FIG. 1). The lock member 9 is placed ahead, in the vector of travel F, of the axis of rotation 5, which extends in the direction Q across the vehicle and about which the trunk lid 4 can turn to free the opening 6. For this purpose, the component 11 has an arm 12 reaching from the axis 5 substantially in the vector of travel F; an additional curvature or downwardly component can be provided on the arm 12. The arm 12 can turn about the axis 5 (FIG. 5), thereby permitting the entrance 6 to open for the roof 2 when the component 11 is connected to the lock member 9. Through springs 13, the arm 12 is biased against the car body 10, so that hydraulic jacks 25, gas jacks 26 or other drive means act with spring support or upon contrary movement against the force of spring 13.

[0026] Due to the arrangement of the lock member 9, which a connection can be produced between the body 10 and the trunk lid 4 ahead, in direction F, of the axis 5, the gap 14 between the trunk lid 4 and parts connected to the body 10, especially a bumper 15, can be minimized. The lock member 9 is swung up on a circular path 16 while the rear bottom end 17 of the trunk lid 4 swings inward also on a circular path.

[0027] The area 18 of the arm 12, remote from the axis of rotation 5, can be attached by fastening means 19 to the lock member 9 on the trunk lid, and can be detached in order to provide the opening 7 for loading the trunk space 8 (FIG. 6). In a first embodiment (FIG. 6), the fastening means 19 include engaging means 20, which are fastened to area 18 of the arm 12 and by which the trunk lid 4 with its lock member 9, which can have an internal receiving pocket, is lifted in order to clear the opening 7 to the trunk space 8.

[0028] An especially good version (FIGS. 7ff) provides for the engaging means 21 a, 21 b, 121 a, to be associated with the lock member 9, so that, when the trunk loading opening 7 is accessible, the engaging means will not protrude into the user's area of action.

[0029] A plurality of engaging means 21 a, 21 b and 121 a are provided, which lie side by side in direction Q across the vehicle. This assures support against torques created by the trunk lid 4 around a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and about the transverse axis of the vehicle. This is especially important whenever the trunk lid 4 swings upward to create the opening 6 for the roof 2. Any lateral tipping of the trunk lid can thus be prevented by resisting the torque. Likewise, any tipping of the trunk lid 4 about the transverse axis of the vehicle in relation to the lock member 9 is prevented, which is especially important for the precise execution of the movement.

[0030] In a first embodiment (FIG. 4) the external engaging means 21 a are in the form of trapezoidal prongs whose length in the transverse direction Q is greater than in the direction of travel F, so that stability against torque is further improved. The tapering of the engaging means 21 a and 21 b also permits reliable centering when the entrance 7 to the trunk space 8 (FIG. 6) is closed.

[0031] The assembly 11 is affixed by fastening means 22 to the body 10, and the lock member 9 is affixed by fastening means 23 to the trunk lid 4.

[0032]FIG. 10 shows an additional embodiment of the lock member 9, in which the outer engaging means 121 a are cone-shaped. The centering-pin operation is thus equally possible in the transverse direction Q and in the lengthwise direction F of the vehicle. The torque rod is also assured with regard to the longitudinal and the transverse axis of the vehicle.

[0033] To disengage the engaging means 21 a, 21 b, 121 a and 20 an operating means 24 is provided in the trunk cover 4, which can be operated by an external actuator or by a remote control, thereby separating the engaging means 19 on the trunk lid 4 and the car body 10.

[0034] The length of the system of engaging means 19 in the transverse direction Q of the vehicle is advantageously more than 15 cm, in order thus to be able to efficiently withstand the torque.

[0035] The lock member 9 and the component 11 can be made entirely of a metallic material, as for example cast aluminum or other common stable materials; the trunk lid 4 can be made of a metallic material, advantageously from a foam material, or from plastic. 

1. Convertible automobile (1) with a roof (3), which can be retracted into a rear area (2) of the vehicle under a trunk lid (4), wherein on the one hand, to release an opening (6) for stowing the roof (3), the trunk lid (4) can be moved in a first opening direction with a lock member (9) associated with it, such that in the open state it includes an acute angle (α) with the vector of travel (F), and on the other hand to clear an opening (7) for loading the trunk space it can be moved in a second opening direction such that the trunk lid (4) includes an obtuse angle (β), while the lock member (9) associated with the trunk lid (4) is separated from the part bearing the pivot axis (5), wherein the lock member (9) associated with the trunk lid is situated ahead of the pivot axis (5) in the direction of travel (F) when the trunk lid is in the closed position, and upon the movement of the trunk lid (4) in the first opening direction it is guided on a circular path (16) about the central pivot axis.
 2. Convertible automobile of claim 1, wherein the pivot axis (5) is associated with a component (11) on the body side, which has an arm (12) pointing in the direction of travel (F).
 3. Convertible automobile of claim 2, wherein the arm (12) can turn about the pivot axis (5).
 4. Convertible automobile of either one of the claims 2 or 3, wherein at least one connecting means (19) is provided in the area of the end of the arm (12) remote from the pivot axis (5) for its connection with the trunk lid (4).
 5. Convertible automobile of one of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the connecting means (19) comprise a plurality of engaging means (20; 21 a; 21 b; 121 a) arranged side by side and associated with the trunk lid (4) and the same number of pockets associated with the arm (12).
 6. Convertible automobile of claim 5, wherein the engaging means (20; 21 a; 21 b; 121 a) are configured at least partially as catches (21 a) of trapezoidal shape in plan.
 7. Convertible automobile of claim 6, wherein the catches (21 a) have a greater width (Q) athwart the vehicle than their length in the direction of travel (F).
 8. Convertible automobile of one of the claims 5 to 7, wherein the engaging means (20; 21 a; 21 b; 121 a) can be brought out of engagement by the movement of an actuating element (24) and the actuating element (24) is received in the trunk lid (4).
 9. Convertible automobile of one of the claims 1 to 8, wherein the length of the array of connecting means (20; 21 a; 21 b; 212 a) extends by more than at least 15 cm in the transverse direction of the vehicle.
 10. Convertible automobile of one of the claims 1 to 9, wherein the arm (12) is resiliently biased against the vehicle body (10). 